Freelance marketer or an agency?

A freelancer usually has a lower rate for a single channel. An agency costs more but delivers a whole marketing function — SEO, AI search, PPC, content, social and CRO — under one transparent monthly figure, with strategy and cover built in. For a small single-channel job a freelancer is often cheaper; for multi-channel growth, an agency frequently returns more per pound once you factor in strategy, coordination and gaps.

Hire a freelancer when you need one channel done well, the scope is small and defined, and you can own strategy and reporting yourself. We say this plainly because it is true — not every brief needs an agency.

An agency like Ripple18 makes sense when you want growth across several channels working together, when you need strategy and reporting tied to revenue, and when campaigns cannot stall because one person is unavailable. You get a strategist, a full channel team and one accountable point of contact.

Ripple18 is a digital marketing agency — a London-based UK team, not a single freelancer. We run campaigns remotely across the UK and six markets. If a team is the right fit, you can engage us on a rolling monthly retainer, starting with one channel and scaling as you grow.